A construction manager who tried to thwart an FBI investigation into disgraced state Sen. Thomas Bromwell is no better than those who prevent justice on Baltimore?s streets by not “snitching,” a federal judge said Tuesday.
“It?s the pathology of the streets of Baltimore,” U.S. District Judge J. Frederick Motz said before sentencing David Jackman, 51, of Perry Hall, to six months in prison.
The former Poole and Kent project manager, who performed work on Bromwell?s house, had previously pleaded guilty to making a false statement to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Jackman told investigators he had always intended to bill Bromwell for $85,000 worth of work performed at the former senator?s Parkville residence. But prosecutors said the work was nothing more than a bribe.
“He participated in the whiting out of documents,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathleen Gavin, who added that Jackman did “lie and delay a federal investigation for an extended period of time.”
In a tearful statement to the judge, Jackman apologized to the “citizens of Maryland.”
“I?ve lost touch with my morals and values,” Jackman said. “… I tarnished my family name and ruined my reputation.” Jackman was working for W. David Stoffregen, the former chief executive officer of Poole and Kent ? who was sentenced Monday to six-and-a-half years in prison ? for paying off the powerful state lawmaker.
A Baltimore County Democrat, Bromwell, 58, was sentenced to seven years in prison earlier this month.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Stoffregen provided various benefits to Bromwell in exchange for the senator?s influence. Stoffregen told Bromwell in 2000 that he would pay him about $80,000 annually to remain in his senate office rather than leave to work in the private sector, prosecutors said.
Between 2001 and 2003, Stoffregen paid Bromwell a total of $192,923 disguised as salary payments to the senator?s wife, Mary Patricia, for a no-show job.
Motz sentenced Mary Patricia Bromwell, 44, to one year and one day in prison earlier this month. Four others who have pleaded guilty in connection to the case are awaiting sentencing.
